In California, state-level candidates and PACs have spent $5.29 million from their campaign accounts on services from Facebook in the 2022 election cycle so far. Facebook received 0.5 percent of all reported expenditures.
According to reports filed with the California Secretary of State between Jan. 1, 2021, and Apr. 23, 2022, here are the top candidates and PACs that have spent campaign funds with Facebook.
Top 10 California campaigns spending money with Facebook
Of the $5,290,745 spent with Facebook, 75.07 percent came from these 10 campaign accounts.
Top Campaign Expenditures with Facebook (1/1/2021 – 4/23/2022)
| Rank | Total Paid to Facebook | Name | Account Type |
| 1. | $1,659,746.07 | Stop the Republican Recall of Governor Newsom | Non-candidate PAC |
| 2. | $538,601.24 | Kevin Kiley | Candidate PAC |
| 3. | $472,888.31 | Larry Elder | Candidate PAC |
| 4. | $255,000.00 | Committee to Protect California Kids Sponsored by Nonprofit Health Organizations | Non-candidate PAC |
| 5. | $232,500.00 | Rescue California | Non-candidate PAC |
| 6. | $225,000.00 | Jenny Rae Le Roux | Candidate PAC |
| 7. | $202,739.38 | Californians for Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support a Coalition of Housing and Mental Health Experts, Concerned Taxpayers, and Digital Sports Entertainment and Gaming Companies | Non-candidate PAC |
| 8. | $150,000.00 | Rescue California-to Support the Recall of Gavin Newsom | Non-candidate PAC |
| 9. | $142,785.93 | Reform California | Non-candidate PAC |
| 10. | $92,757.71 | Voto Latino Against the Newsom Recall (Nonprofit 501(c)(4)) | Non-candidate PAC |
Campaign expenditures with Facebook in 12 states
Here is how spending with Facebook in California compares to 12 other states with data available from Transparency USA for the most recent election cycle:
Comparison of total campaign finance expenditures with Facebook, by state
| Rank | State | Total Paid to Facebook | Reporting Period |
| 1 | California | $5,290,745 | 1/1/2021- 4/23/2022 |
| 2 | Virginia | $4,486,863 | 1/1/2020-12/31/2021* |
| 3 | Texas | $2,675,276 | 1/1/2021 – 5/14/2022 |
| 4 | Michigan | $194,180 | 1/1/2021 – 4/20/2022 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $166,072 | 1/1/2021 – 3/31/2022 |
| 6 | Arizona | 123,154 | 1/1/2021 – 3/31/2022 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $106,513 | 1/1/2021 – 3/9/2022 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $101,978 | 1/1/2021 – 3/21/2022 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $78,960 | 1/1/2021 – 4/30/2022 |
| 10 | Florida | $38,542 | 1/1/2021 – 3/31/202 |
| 11 | Indiana | $29,534 | 1/1/2021 – 4/8/2022 |
| 12 | Ohio | $19,924 | 1/1/2021 – 4/13/2022 |
*Virginia’s two-year election cycles end in an odd-numbered year. The first available reports for Virginia’s 2023 election cycle are due Jul. 17, 2022.
While spending varies widely between states, no state on Transparency USA has reported more than 1.06 percent of total campaign expenditures on services from Facebook in the most recent cycle.
While spending varies widely between states, no state on Transparency USA has reported more than 1.06 percent of total campaign expenditures on services from Facebook in the most recent cycle.
The data above are based on campaign finance reports that active California PACs submitted to the California Secretary of State. Transparency USA publishes campaign finance data following major reporting deadlines. State or federal law may require filers to submit additional reports.
| Report Name | Due Date |
| Semiannual | 1/31/2022 |
| 1st Pre-Election – Primary | 4/28/2022 |
| 2nd Pre-Election – Primary | 5/26/2022 |
| Semiannual | 8/1/2022 |
| 1st Pre-Election – General | 9/29/2022 |
| 2nd Pre- Election – General | 10/27/2022 |
| Semiannual | 1/31/2023 |
This article is a joint publication from Ballotpedia and Transparency USA, who are working together to provide campaign finance information for state-level elections. Learn more about our work here.